Soldiers announce apparent military coup in Benin
Reports from Benin indicate that on Sunday, December 7, 2025, an attempted coup d’état unfolded in the country, with a group of soldiers announcing on national television that they had taken control of the government in Cotonou and removed President Patrice Talon from power.
The announcement was broadcast repeatedly on SRTB, Benin’s national television channel, where the soldiers declared the dissolution of state institutions and the dismissal of President Talon. According to the televised statement, a transitional authority—called the Comité Militaire de la Refondation (CMR), or Military Committee for National Reconstruction—would lead the country under the command of Lt. Col. Tigri Pascal.
Military Committee Outlines Its Claims
The group of soldiers who appeared on state TV introduced themselves as the CMR and named Lt. Col. Pascal Tigri as the head of the committee. In their declaration, they claimed responsibility for toppling President Talon and announced the suspension of the country’s constitution.
Despite the repeated broadcasts, the situation in the economic capital, Cotonou, remains unclear and marked by confusion. Some reports indicate that an attempted overthrow began early in the morning, with armed individuals allegedly attacking President Talon’s residence in the Guézo neighborhood. Other sources suggest that the president may already have been removed from power, though this has not been independently confirmed.
